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The B4 form! B4 you go! Make a list! (any advice?)

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
juice said:
What should we put in the place of the importer's address, for a new settler? The intended address in Canada or our address here in Thailand???
We were told to put our address in Canada
 

chrimano

Star Member
Oct 12, 2010
54
2
Category........
Visa Office......
Vienna
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Dec-3-2010
AOR Received.
Jan-20-2011
Med's Done....
Oct-29-2010
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
Feb-23-2011
VISA ISSUED...
March-22-2011
LANDED..........
March-27-2011
@heather: did you also bring a car back as returning resident? and if yes did you drive it back? Just asking because we are in a similar situation where my wife is the returning resident but my papers not filed yet since the FBI record has not arrived yet. thanks for the answer
 

jillandmat

Star Member
Jun 25, 2010
184
4
Costa Azul
Category........
Visa Office......
Buenos Aires
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
19/05/2010
AOR Received.
08/07/2010
File Transfer...
22/06/2010
Med's Done....
05/07/2010
where do i get the form.. ?
and what if it is just 2 suitcases? do i need to do a B4 form?
 

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
chrimano said:
@ heather: did you also bring a car back as returning resident? and if yes did you drive it back? Just asking because we are in a similar situation where my wife is the returning resident but my papers not filed yet since the FBI record has not arrived yet. thanks for the answer
yes, I brought the car back - I drove it and pulled my uhaul along with it. I have detailed the process in other threads but basically if the car had been worth more than 10k I would have let my husband claim it because as a returning resident I would have had to pay duty on the amount over 10k but my husband as a new immigrant would not have.
 

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
jillandmat said:
where do i get the form.. ?
and what if it is just 2 suitcases? do i need to do a B4 form?
They will have the form at the border - we had a list and the one border crossing just accepted that, and the other border crossing they had me transfer the items on to the actual B4. You can also print one off from the www.cbsa.gc.ca
 

minna

Hero Member
Jun 2, 2010
366
10
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16/07/2010
AOR Received.
08/09/2010
File Transfer...
19/08/2010
Med's Done....
13/07/2010
Interview........
WAIVED
Passport Req..
30/11/2010
VISA ISSUED...
15/12/2010
LANDED..........
18/12/2010
chrimano said:
@ heather: did you also bring a car back as returning resident? and if yes did you drive it back? Just asking because we are in a similar situation where my wife is the returning resident but my papers not filed yet since the FBI record has not arrived yet. thanks for the answer
I'm also a returning resident, and I imported my car when I crossed the border with my partner, whose application has not yet been approved. We drove from Florida to Vancouver, and had no problems at the border. I just told them our situation, and they waved us inside to do the paperwork. the car was "searched" (they asked us to open the trunk, and looked in the open windows to see what was inside), and the VIN was verified. Make sure you have your car's title and registration with you, and in your name, and also make sure you research what needs to be done re: recall clearance - different makes and models have different requirements.

Like Heather, my car was worth less than 10K, otherwise, I might not have imported it as a returning resident. Heather's previous post on steps involved in importing a car from the US is definitely worth searching out. I had some slightly different experiences than she did, but it's good info.
 

heatherusa

Hero Member
Mar 23, 2010
790
64
Edmonton
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-05-2010
File Transfer...
14-06-2010
Med's Done....
22-04-2010
Interview........
Not required
Passport Req..
08-10-2010
LANDED..........
26-10-2010
minna said:
I'm also a returning resident, and I imported my car when I crossed the border with my partner, whose application has not yet been approved. We drove from Florida to Vancouver, and had no problems at the border. I just told them our situation, and they waved us inside to do the paperwork. the car was "searched" (they asked us to open the trunk, and looked in the open windows to see what was inside), and the VIN was verified. Make sure you have your car's title and registration with you, and in your name, and also make sure you research what needs to be done re: recall clearance - different makes and models have different requirements.

Like Heather, my car was worth less than 10K, otherwise, I might not have imported it as a returning resident. Heather's previous post on steps involved in importing a car from the US is definitely worth searching out. I had some slightly different experiences than she did, but it's good info.
Our car was not searched at either border crossing. In Coutts they opened the door to make sure the Vin was correct (that is where I imported).


Thanks for the nice words...my head got a bit big for a minute there! LOL.
 

minna

Hero Member
Jun 2, 2010
366
10
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16/07/2010
AOR Received.
08/09/2010
File Transfer...
19/08/2010
Med's Done....
13/07/2010
Interview........
WAIVED
Passport Req..
30/11/2010
VISA ISSUED...
15/12/2010
LANDED..........
18/12/2010
heatherusa said:
Our car was not searched at either border crossing. In Coutts they opened the door to make sure the Vin was correct (that is where I imported).


Thanks for the nice words...my head got a bit big for a minute there! LOL.
you're very welcome! your posts helped me out a lot!!

I also found the RIV website pretty helpful in navigating exactly the steps necessary for my particular vehicle make and model (I have a volvo, and had to have it inspected by an authorized volvo dealer/repair center in Canada before a recall clearance could be issued - an extra wrinkle!) as well as the info for each border crossing. I still need to export my car from the US (the office had just closed for the day when we got to the border - so ridiculous). It took me about a month after arriving to get all of the inspections completed. I just received my RIV clearance sticker in the mail today.
 

nyssa

Hero Member
May 14, 2009
969
44
123
Midwest, USA
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo, USA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
30-07-2010
AOR Received.
22-09-10
Med's Done....
09-01-2010
Interview........
WAIVED
Passport Req..
06-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
06-11-2010
LANDED..........
06-01-2011
With the B4 forms, are you using one B4 and one B4A to fit everything? And what about when you go past the B4A? Should I use one B4 and 3-4 B4A forms? Or one B4 and Excel pages? :-\
 

rubyalabar

Hero Member
Sep 8, 2010
770
34
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo to Los Angeles
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-03-2010
Nomination.....
21-02-2010
AOR Received.
23-06-2010
IELTS Request
waived
File Transfer...
26-10-2010
Med's Request
23-06-2010
Med's Done....
26-07-2010 (Aug.6 rec'vd by Ottawa)
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
16-12-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-01-2011
LANDED..........
04-02-2011
i think the B4 form has 8 rows, so you can divide your stuff into 8 categories, what i will do is-

1. personal effects (clothing, bags, shoes, etc)
2. toys, electronics and gadgets
3. linens
4. consumables (toiletires, etc)
5. kitchenware
6. jewelry
7. doucments
8. food (not sure about this yet)

put these categories in the B4 form and just prepare an excel spreadsheet containing the detailed list. you can attach this to the B4 form. That way, you don't need the B4a. also jewelry that is very expensive, you need to submit photos.

nyssa said:
With the B4 forms, are you using one B4 and one B4A to fit everything? And what about when you go past the B4A? Should I use one B4 and 3-4 B4A forms? Or one B4 and Excel pages? :-\